Stacker



Jan. 14, 1941. w. v. WARREN 2,228,796

STACKER Filed April 5, 1959 7 Sheets- Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1941.

w. v. ARREN STACKER Fiied April 5, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M'Z/iam K Warren.

Jan. 14, 1941. w. v. WARREN S-TACKER Filed April 5, 1939 7 Sheet's-Sheet 5 InZ'z'ZZz'am K Warren/- Jan. 14, 1941. w. v. WARREN STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 5, 1939 Jan. 14, 1941.

W. V. WARREN S TACKER Filed April s, 19:59

7 Shet's-Sheet 1 William KNarI Qen- Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES STACKER William V. Warren, Salina, Kans assignor to The F. Wyatt Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Salina, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application April5, 1939, Serial No. 266,180

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved machine, hereinafter called a stacker, for gathering hay, straw, or like crops from the swath, windrow or bunch and loading such crops on wagons or trucks, and/or stacking them.

One object of the invention is to provide a stacker, the operation of which will be entirely continuous and automatic so that a load may be gathered, transported to a desired location, raised to the necessary height, and dumped, all without the necessity of stopping for the purpose of shifting various controls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stacker employing improved hitching mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stacker having novel mounting means for the fork employed so that the machine may be used as a sweep rake.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stacker having novel clutch and shifter mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stacker wherein means are employed for automatically raising the points of the teeth of the fork as the machine moves along the ground and preliminary to the lifting of the fork toward raised position.

Still another object is to provide a machine of this character employing improved, simplified mechanism for tilting a loaded fork and dumping the load, said mechanismincluding springs for absorbing the shock when dumping the load.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stacker which will be characterized by the utmost simplicity and ease of operation.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a stacker which may be used with various types of tractors.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stacker as it would appear with the fork in elevated position. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the stacker with the fork in lowered position, the fork being shown in its raised position in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the stacker with the fork and supporting frame therefor in raised position, the position of the fork after dumping being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the fork tilting or dumping control mechanism,

clutch and shifter showing said mechanism as it would appear when the fork is in upright'position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the fork tilting or dumping mechanism, showing said mechanism in released position, in which position the fork will be tilted.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing one of the dumping or tilting mechanism springs.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by. the arrows.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the forward end of the stacker, showing the fork and the clutch and shifter mechanism, on the line 8-8 of Fig ure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail top plan view of the clutch and shifter mechanism.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line ll-ll of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on the line l2l2 ofFigure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail l3-i3 of Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view showing the structure of one of the road wheels.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view showing the structure of the other of the road wheels.

Figure 16 is a detail perspective view of the operating lever structure employed for raising the fork carrying frame.

Figure 17 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanism employed for shifting the fork carrying frame.

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view on the line I8|8 of Figure 17, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 19 is an enlarged detail plan view of the operating clampfor the fork carrying frame.

Figure 20 is a detail sectional view, on a reduced scale, showing the guides employed for guiding the fork supporting frame in lowered position.

Referring now'more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral I indicates, in general, the body frame of my improved stacker. The body frame is best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and is substantially triangular in side elevation. The body frame has lower side beams 2 and 3 which converge rearwardly and are connected at their corresponding rear ends by a hitch plate casting 4. At their corresponding forward ends, the beams 2 and 3 are connected by a front cross beam 5,

sectional view on the line while a central cross beam 8 connects said lower side beams 2 and 3 medially of their ends. As seen in Figure 8 of the drawings, the beams 2 and 3 are projected forwardly past the front cross beams 5 and are connected at their free ends to bearings 1 on the axle 8. Diagonally extending braces 8 and I8 extend from the midpoints of the beams 2 and 3 to the axle 8, said braces bein connected to the central portion of the axle'by bearings II and I2.

The body frame I includes front beams l3 and I4 and rear beams l5'a'nd I8. The beams I3 and I4 have their corresponding lower ends secured to the lower side beams 2 and 3, near their forward ends, while the rear beams l5 and I8 converge downwardly and have their corresponding lower ends connected tosaid side beams 2 and 3. The front and rear beams, at each side of the frame I, are connected at their corresponding upper ends by plates l1. That is to say, the beams l3 and I5 are connected by one of the plates 11, while the beams l4 and I8 are connected by the other of the plates l1. Rising substantially perpendicularly from the lower side members 2 and 3, at their midportions, are bearing posts l8 and IS. The bearing posts I8 and I8 have their lower end portions secured in the lower side members and their upper end portions secured to the inner surfaces of the plates |1. As best seen in Figure 2. the corresponding upper ends of the posts l8 and I8 are turned to define bearing loops 28 and 2|. Connecting the upper ends of the front beams l3 and I4 is a tie beam 22, which serves the purpose of connecting the sides of the body frame at its upper extremity and in order to provide increased bracing for the body frame, I provide crossed rods 23 and 24. The front'and rear beams |3, |4,

l5 and I8 effectively brace the bearing posts.

Swingingly connected with the body frame is a fork supporting frame 25 which is substantially triangular in shape. The fork supporting frame 25 comprises upper side bars 28 and 21, rear side bars 28 and 28, and lower side bars 38 and 3|. The upper side bars 28 and 21 are connected to the rear side bars 28 and 23 by bearing plates 32 and 33, through which bearing plates extends a mounting shaft 34. The opposite ends of the shaft 34 are journaled by the loops 28 and 2|. It will now be understood how the fork supporting frame is swingingly connected with the body frame I. As best seen in Figure l, the rear side bars 28 and 28 and the lower side bars converge and are connected by a pulley frame 35 to define an apex portion 38. The pulley frame 35, as seen in Figures 17 and 18, has ears 31 and 38 between which, on a pin 38a, is mounted a pulley 38. The

cars 31 and 38 are projected to deflne parallel stop members .48.

The upper side bars 28 and 21 are spaced apart at their coriesponding forward end portions by a forward brace 4|. The lower side bars 38 and 3| are connected, respectively, to the bars 28 and 21 slightly rearwardly of the brace 4|. As clearly seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the bars 28 and 21 are projected forwardly and turned to deflne upwardly curved portions 42 and 43. Guide springs 43a are mounted on the front cross beam 5 and guide the frame 25, in lowered position.

Mounted on the fork supportingframe 25 at the pivotal points thereof, is a lever supporting frame 44. The lever supporting frame 44 has mounting posts 48 and 41 which rise angularlyfrom the rear "side bars 28 and 28, and bracing posts 48 and 48 which are respectively connected to the upper side bars 28 and 21 and project in the same plane. Pivotally connected to the corresponding.

upper ends of the mounting posts 48 and 41 are operatinglevers 58 and II.

The fork 52, for gathering hay or other material to be stacked, is best seen in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings, and is substantially L- shaped in side elevation. The fork 52 includes a plurality of laterally spaced tines or prongs 53 which are connected at their corresponding inner ends to a terminal bar 54. In order to brace the tines 53 against lateral swinging movement, 1 provide a brace bar 55 which extends in parallel spaced relation to the terminal bar throughout the width of the fork. Near the opposite ends of the fork 52, and extending between the terminal bar 54 and the brace bar 55, are hinge plates 58 and 51. These plates 58 and 51 are, of course, secured at their opposite corresponding ends to the terminal bar and the brace bar and, as will be observed, these hinge plates are disposed slightly obliquely with respect to the tines 53 so as to be disposed to confront, in parallel spaced relation, the curved portions 42 and 43 of the fork supporting frame. Bolts 58 connect the hinge plates with the portions ,42 and 43 so that the fork 52 will be mounted for eflective'swinging movement on the frame 25.

The fork 52 has a plurality of uprights 58 rising from the terminal bar 54. These uprights are laterally spaced along the length of the bar 54 a and have mounted thereon back bars 88 which are arranged in a vertically spaced series and cooperate with the uprights to deflne a back for the fork. Braces 8| aid in retaining the uprights 53 and the bars 88 in proper position. The fork 52 has guard tines 82 at each end and said side tines are braced by stays 83. I

On the upper side bars 28 and 21 of the fork supporting frame 25, and near the forward ends of said bars, are tension units 84 and 85 including brackets 88 which are secured to the arms 28 and 21. Rods 81 are movably mounted in the brackets and have eyes 88 at their outer ends. Springs 89 surround the rods 81 between the brackets and the inner ends of said rods. Chains 88a connect the eyes 88 of the tension units 84 and 85 with the brace bar 55. It will be seen that the springs 88 will pull upon the rear of the fork 52 for applying pressure and flexibility to the points of the tines so that a clean job of picking up hay or the like, over uneven ground, will be assured.

,The clutch and shifter. mechanism for swinging the fork supporting frame and fork with respect to the body frame will now be described. This mechanism is best seen in Figures 9 through 13 of the drawings. The axle 8 has normally freely mounted thereon, medially of its length, a pulley casting 18 having a pulley 1| and a ratchet wheel 12. Also carried on the axle 8 and disposed ad- Jacent the face of the wheel 12 is a guide collar 13. A key 14, seen in Figure 12. rigidly mounts the collar 13 on the axle 8. As will be seen, the collar 13 is formed of mating sections 14 and 15, connectedbybolts 18. Guide flanges 11 and 18 are formed on the collar 13. For limiting the casting 18 against lateral movement on the shaft or axle 8, I provide a collar 18a.

Slidable laterally on the shaft or axle 8 is a clutch element 18 which has diametrically disposed rods 88 and 8| thereon, which rods extend through the flanges 11 and 18 'of the collar 13. The rods are engageable in sockets 82, in the face of the ratchet wheel 12. The clutch element n is keyed to rotate with the axle a but said element 19 includes a split shifter collar a having pins 8Ia and 82a thereon. For engaging the clutch element with the pulley casting 10, a shifter fork 83 is employed, which fork includes fork elements 84 and 85, the element 84 being engaged with the pin 8Ia and the element with the pin 82a. The elements 84 and 85 are arranged in the same vertical plane and are pivotally connected, respectively, to the front cross beam 5 and to a bracket 86, of U-shape, which has its ends secured to said front cross beam. Bolts 81 and 88 extend through elongated slots 89 to effect the pivotal connection above mentioned.

Connected to the free end of the fork element 84 is a shifting lever 90. A connecting lever element 8I connects the free end of the fork element 85 with the shifting lever 90. A diagonal lever element 92 fork element 84 with the shifting lever near its end. A similar diagonal lever 92a. connects the element 85 with the lever element 9|. "The diagonal lever 92 has slotted ends 93 and 94 in which bolts and 96 work, for permitting play in the shifting mechanism and. thus insuring proper operation thereof. A tension spring 91 is connected between the element .85 and the shifting lever for keeping this mechanism under tension.

A supporting bracket 98 is connected with the lever element 9| and extends upwardly past the lever 90, to be disposed in longitudinal alinement with the ratchet wheel 12. Mounted on the front cross beam 5 is a yoke 99 posed in longitudinal alinement with the wheel 12. A pin I00 pivotally connects a pawl IM to the yoke 99 and a sleeve I02 limits the pawl against lateral movement in the yoke. The pawl IOI has an apertured ear I03 near its forward end. A pawl shifting rod I04 has a hooked end I05 engaged through the ear and a threaded opposite end portion which extends slidably through the upper end of the bracket 98. Adjusting nuts I06 are screwed on the threaded portion. A retractile spring I01, connected between the under side of the pawl and a bracket plate I 08, urges the tooth I09 ofthe pawl IOI into engagement with the ratchet teeth. As best seen in Figures 1 and 8, a shifting rod IIO, connected to the free end of the shifting lever, extends rearwardly of the machine and has its end located for convenient manual engagement.

Ground wheels III and H2 are carried at the ends of the axle 8. These wheels have differential hubs I I3 and H4, seen in Figures 14 and 15, so that easy turning of the machine will be assured.

An operating cable, shown at II5, has its free forward end secured in the groove of the pulley H, and is adapted to be wound about the pulley in said groove. The rear end of the cable H5 is, as best seen in Figures 17 and 19, mounted between plates I I6 of an operating clamp H1. The plates I I6 are held in clamping position by bolts II8. Operating rods H9 and I20 have looped corresponding lower ends I2I surrounding the bolts I I 8. The opposite corresponding ends of the rods H9 and responding rear ends of the operating levers 50 and 5|.

The mechanism for controlling tilting movement of the fork 52 will now be described; This mechanism is shown in Figures 4 through 7. Attention is again directed to the hitch plate casting 4. This casting, as heretofore stated,serves the purpose of connecting the rear ends of the beams connects the midportion of the which is also dis-' I20 are operatively connected with cor- 3 2, 3, I 5 and I6 of the body frame I. The hitching plate casting 4 is projected rearwardly and formed near its rear extremity with a socket I22 which is adapted operatively to receive a ball portion I23,

carried on the forward end of a tractor I24. A

bolt I25 maintains the ball and socket connection. If desired, an oil line I26 may be employed with the hitch to insure proper lubrication. It should be understood that any suitable type of hitching connection may be employed in lieu of the type shown, if desired.

The casting 4 includes an integral upstanding yoke I21 which has a forwardly extending apertured ear I28 thereon. swingingly mounted on the ear I28, by a pin I29, is a latch assembly shown generally at I30. The latch assembly I30 includes a lever I3I which has its lower end swingingly connected with the yoke I21. The lever I3I has a bowed body member I 32 connected thereto. That is to say, one end of the body member I32 is connected to the lever I3I near its inner end by a bolt I33. The free end of the lever I3I is connected to the member I32 near its opposite end by a bolt I34. A loop I35 is carried at the free end of the body member. Pivotally connected with the member I32, near the bowed portion thereof, is a latch member I36 having a hooked end I31. As will be seen, the latch member is connected, near its lower end, by a pivot I38. The latch member extends in an adjacent vertical plane with the lever I3I and is of such length that its outer end is disposed substantially in longitudinal alinement with the loop I35. The end of the member I36 is twisted at I39 and has an eye I40 therein.

A spring guide rod connected to the latch member I36, at I42. The opposite end of the rod I4I extends through a loop I43 carried on the body member I32. A coil spring I44 surrounds the rod MI and is confined between the member I32 and the member I36. It will be understood that the spring normally urges the latch member I36 away from the body member I32 so that the hooked end I31 is shifted rearwardly and upwardly for normal engagement, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, with a keeper pin I45. The keeper pin I45 is carried-by a yoke I46 which is secured by a bolt I41 to the casting 4.

Mounted on the bight portion of the bowed body member I32 are laterally projecting brackets I46a and I 41a in which are mounted the lower end per-- tions I48 and I49 of tilting cables I50 and The tilting cables are trained through pulleys and I 53 which are carried at the forward corresponding ends of the levers 50 and 5|. The cables I 50 and I5I will effect rocking movement of the fork.

For supporting the rear end of the shifting rod IIO, I provide a supporting post I54 which has a bracket I55 mounted thereon. The post I54 rises from the beam 3, near the casting 4, so that convenient location for the end of the shifting rod IIO.will be provided. The shifting rod IIO extends between the bracket 15s and the post m I55, as shown at I51.

ings, I employ limiting means for the latch assembly I33. The limiting means; designated generally at I59, includes compression springs I and one of these springs is provided for each of the tilting cables I53 and III. The springs are identical so that a discussion of one will suffice. One of the springs includes a spring portion I6I which is held -pressed by means of end pieces I" and I33. The end pieces have respectively secured thereto rods I and I65. That is to say, the rod I is connected to the end piece I62 and extends throughout the length of the spring portion ICI therein and through the end I63. The rod I is bent laterally and hooked at I66 for engagement about one of the portions I43 and I. The rod I35 terminates in an eye I81 which is pivotally mounted on the end of one of the side beams of the body frame. As' best seen in Figure 5, when the latch assembly I30 is released, the hooked ends I will engage against the'brackets. I 43 and I" and will resiliently retain, the cables I" and "I against too great movement.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention will be clearly understood after a reading of the foregoing, it is thought advisable to set forth a brief discussion on the subject.

Reference is first had to Figure 2 of the drawings,.wherein the-machine is shown with the fork 52 in lowered position preliminary to a gathering operation. .The tractor and my improved stacker are moved across a field for the purpose of effecting the gathering of hay, straw, or the like. When it is desired to raise the fork, the shifting rod III is pulled rearwardly. This operation will have the effect of shifting the lever 90 and associated lever structure, shown in Figures 9 and 10, for engaging the rods 80 and 3| in the sockets 32. The effect of this will be to lock the pulley casting III on the axle 3. The pulley will rotate with movement of the axle with the resultthat the cable II! will be wound in the groove of the pulley -II. As the cable is wound in the pulley, the read end thereof will be drawn downwardly for rocking the levers III and SI so that their forward ends will be pulled upwardly. This will tilt the fork 52 upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. As the cable IIS continues to wind on the pulley II, the operating clamp will be caused to engage the pulley frame 35 forwardly of the stop members 40. Continued forward movement of thecable II! will rock the entire fork supporting frame on the shaft 34 to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. It should be understood that, if desired, the clutch element 19 may be disengaged from the casting Ill, when further upward movement of the frame 25 will cease. In this manner, the fork 52 may be raised to any desired, position within the limits of its swinging travel. The ratchet pawl 'IIII automatically engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel I! for preventing undesired lowering of the fork and.fork supporting frame. In its raised position, the fork appears as shown in Figured. During the raising operation, the tilting mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. That is to say, the hooked end ofthe latch member I36 is engaged in the keeper pin I45. The'result is that the fork is retained in its uppermost position, as shown in full lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

When it is desired to dump the load carried by the fork 52, a cord I", trained through the eye I35 and secured to the eye I", is pulled for disengaging the latch member I3 from the keeper pin I and releasing the tilting cables I" and lil. The fork 53 will then be permitted to swing downwardly for discharging its load. The springs II! have the effect of cushioning the fork at the end of its downward shifting movement. The entire machine is moved in a rearward direction for the purpose of lowering the fork. The cord I'lll is given a quick pulling and releasing movement, when the fork has been lowered, for the purpose of engaging the latch member I33 with the keeper pin I, so that the fork may again be tilted upwardly on the fork supporting frame when the machine is moving and the clutch is engaged.

It should be understood that the pawl IOI is raised from the ratchet wheel 12 preliminary to lowering the fork. This is a necessary operation in order to permit rearward movement of the machine and is accomplished by shifting the rod IIII, which shifting movement urges the bracket 93 rearwardly into engagement with the nuts I33.

Attention is directed to the fact that, as I provide the bracket 93 and the rod II, the lever 90 may be shifted rearwardly for a portion of its travel without lifting the pawl from the wheel I2. When the lever isshifted to full rearward position, the bracket 93 will, as stated, engage the nuts III and thus shift the rod I04 and pawl III. The rod III is shown in full forward position. In full rear position, the link I 56 will be in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, so that said rod IIO will be latched in retracted position.

It is desired also to call attention to the fact thatmy improved stacker may be moved over the ground for any desired distance with the fork in lowered position. The tension units 6.4 and 35 will keep the tines in such position that gathering of hay or the like may be done effectually, even over rough terrain. It will thus be seen that the machine may be used as a sweep rake.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a stacker, a body frame, a fork supporting frame, means swingingly connecting the fork supporting frame with the body frame, a fork, means swingingly connecting the fork with the fork supporting frame, a lever supporting frame having mounting posts, operating levers carried by the mounting posts, an axle carried by the body frame, a pulley casting mounted on the axle, a latch assembly mounted on the body frame and having a body member, tilting. cables connecting the body member with the fork, said tilting cables being trained through corresponding end portions of the operating levers, operating rods having ends connected with the opposite ends of the operating levers, an operating clamp connected to the opposite ends of the operating rods, an operating cable connected to the clamp and to the pulley casting, and releasing means for the latch assembly, said cable being wound about the axle upon movement of the body frame for initially shifting the operating clamp, operating rods and operat ing levers whereby the tilting cables will be shifted for tilting the fork to a load retaining position, said operating cable upon further movement engaging the clamp with the fork supporting frame whereby said frame and fork will be elevated to an operating position, said latch assembly being operable for releasing the body member and permitting the fork to tilt to a dumping position.

2. In a stacker, a body frame, a fork supporting frame, means swingingly connecting the fork supporting frame with the body frame, a lever supporting frame, operating levers carried thereby, a fork, means swingingly connecting the fork with the fork supporting frame, tilting cables connected with the rear of the fork and trained through the ends of the operating levers, and a latch assembly having a body portion connected to the opposite ends of the tilting cables, said latch assembly having a lever mounted'at the rear of the body frame, said lever supporting the body member, a latch member connected with the body member, and a keeper pin engageable by the latch member for holding the body member in a set position with the tilting cables taut and the fork tilted to load retaining position, said latch member being shiftable for disengagement from the keeper pin whereby the tilting cables will be released for permitting tilting of the fork to a dumping position.

3. A stacker as recited in claim 2, wherein means is employed for shifting the frame and fork to an elevated position.

4. A stacker as recited in claim 2, wherein means is employed which is operable initially for tilting the fork to load retaining position and secondarily to shift the fork supporting frame to an elevated position.

5. A stacker including a body frame, a fork supporting frame, means swingingly connecting the fork supporting frame with the body frame, means on the body frame and operable at movement of said body frame for engaging the fork supporting frame and elevating said fork supporting frame, a fork swingingly connected with the fork supporting frame, means carried by the body frame and fork supporting frame for tilting the fork, and springs on the fork supporting frame and connected with the fork for normally urging said fork when in lowered position toward a surface for a gathering operation.

6. A stacker as recited in claim 5, wherein said last mentioned means comprise tension springs, brackets connecting corresponding ends of the tension springs with the fork supporting frame, and chains connecting the opposite corresponding ends of the tension springs with portions of the fork.

7. In a stacker, a body frame having an axle and a front cross beam, ground wheels on the axle, a pulley casting mounted on the axle to normally rotate thereabout, said pulley casting having a pulley and a ratchet wheel, a guide collar on the axle at the opposite side of the casting and having openings, a clutch element keyed to the axle, a shifter collar on the clutch element, a shifter fork including fork elements engageable with the shifter collar, a shifting lever for shifting the shifter fork and the said shifter fork being pivotally connected with the front cross bar, a shifter rod connected with the shifter fork and extending rearwardly of the body frame for manual engagement, said shifter rod and lever being movable for moving the shifter fork and clutch element and engaging the clutch rods in openings in the casting whereby the pulley casting and clutch element will be locked to rotate with the axle, a fork supporting frame carried by the body, an operating cable connected between the fork supporting frame and the pulley casting, said operating cable being adapted to be wound within the pulley upon rotation of the casting for shifting the fork supporting frame to an elevated position, a pawl, means hingedly mounting the pawl on the front cross beam, said pawl being engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel for limiting said axle against rearward movement, and means carried by the shifting lever and operatively connected with the pawl for retracting the pawl and releasing the ratchet wheel for permitting rearward movement of the axle and consequent lowering of the fork supporting frame.

WILLIAM V. WARREN. 

